Ski pole locking assembly

ABSTRACT

A ski pole assembly is provided capable of having a lock member in the handle of one pole and a locking flexible elongated member stored in another ski pole. The flexible elongated member carries a stop member at one end to insure a relative fastening with the storage ski pole. The other end of the elongated member carries a locking head that is adapted to co-act with the lock in the other handle. The elongated member can be fastened about a stationary object and, for example, a pair of skiis to secure them against theft. An alternative embodiment requires only one ski pole for the locking assembly. The lock can be a push lock or a tumbler lock. A simplified push lock consisting essentially of a longitudinally movable keeper member and a series of tumbler pins can be utilized.

United States Patent [191 Brimhall, II

[ SKI POLE LOCKING ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: George Henry Brimhall, II, PO.

Box 733, Sunset Beach, Calif. 90650 [22] Filed: July 9, 1973 21 Appl.No.: 377,616

[52] US. Cl. 70/58 [51] Int. Cl. EOSB 73/00 [58] Field of Search 70/14, 15, 57, 58, 361,

70/387; 211/60 SK; 280/1 1.37 R, 11.37 B, 11.37 D, 11.37 H, 11.37 C, 11.37 K, 11.37 A

[ 1 Aug. 19, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,499,959 9/1967 France 280/1 1.37 A

Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or FirmJackson & Jones [5 7 ABSTRACT A ski pole assembly is provided capable of having a lock member in the handle of one pole and a locking flexible elongated member stored in another ski pole. The flexible elongated member carries a stop member at one end to insure a relative fastening with the storage ski pole. The other end of the elongated member carries a locking head that is adapted to co-act with the lock in the other handle. The elongated member can be fastened about a stationary object and, for example, a pair of skiis to secure them against theft. An alternative embodiment requiresonly one ski pole for the locking assembly. The lock can be a push lock or a tumbler lock. A simplified push lock consisting essentially of a longitudinally movable keeper member and a series of tumbler pins can be utilized.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SKI POLE LOCKING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to ski poles and more particularly, to a combination ski pole and lock assembly.

2. Description of the Prior Art The sport of sking has enjoyed a tremendous increase in popularity in recent years. However, the cost of the ski equipment, such as skiis and bindings, has become extremely expensive as the equipment becomes more sophisticated. With the increase in popularity and the cost of equipment, there has also been an accompanying increase in theft of the ski equipment A skier is often forced to leave his ski equipment whenever he pauses for a rest. The skiis are generally placed in a vertical position in the snow. There is always a constant fear with the skier that when he returns, his equipment will be stolen. Frequently, the skier will attempt to separate the skiis by leaving one ski in one area and the other ski in another area on the assumption that a thief will not steal a single ski. This is a haphazard safeguard at best and is easily defeated by any vigilant thief.

At some ski resorts, lockers and various forms of lock assemblies can be rented for storage of the skiis. This, however, can be expensive if the skier takes frequent breaks that necessitate the exposure of his skiis to theft.

Various locking devices are sold to carry on the person of the skier. These devices, however, have the disadvantage of consuming valuable space in the skiers pockets and also exist as a potential danger to the skier if he falls on the locking device.

Due to the inadequacies of the prior art, most skiers simply assume the risk that their equipment may be stolen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A ski pole assembly is provided having at least one pole with a lock member attached in the handle of the pole. An elongated flexible member is adapted to be stored in a pole body either within the same pole or another pole. The flexible member is adapted for limited movement and carries a locking head for co-acting with the lock member whereby ski equipment can be secured with the flexible member and fastened to stationary objects to protect them from theft.

A preferred locking assembly utilizes a casing member that receives a keeper member adapted to move along the longitudinal axis of the casing member. The casing member contains at least one bore for receiving the resilient means and a connecting pin. Tumbler pins are operatively positioned adjacent respective connecting pins in the body of the keeper member. A key having cammin g portions is capable of positioning the tumbler pins to permit longitudinal movement of the keeper member against an appropriate spring whereby the elongated member can be fastened or released from the lock assembly.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 discloses a perspective view of the ski pole assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 discloses a cross-sectional side view of the handle and lock member of the present invention;

FIG. 3 discloses a partial cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the present invention locking a pair of skiis to a stationary object; and

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a handle top of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring to FIG. 1, a ski pole assembly 2 can comprise either a single ski pole 4 or an additional ski pole 6. The features of the present invention are preferably utilized with a pair of ski poles 4 and 6 as shown in FIG. 1 but in an alternative embodiment disclosed in FIG. 3, it is possible for a single ski pole to contain the present invention.

The ski poles 4 and 6 each include, respectively, a handle portion 8 and 10, a basket portion 12 and 14 and interconnecting pole members 16 and 18.

Generally, the handle portion includes a strap 20 that can be molded integrally with the respective handle portion or can be separate and adjustable. The particular design or shape of the handle portions 8 and 10 can be varied as desired. For example, the respective handle portions 8 and 10 can be molded to interlock if desired. The interconnecting pole members 16 and 18 are generally made from a lightweight, strong material such as an alloy of steel or aluminum. The basket portions 12 and 14 generally are made from a hard rubber or plastic material and as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 4, are designed to interconnect or snap lock with the respective poles l6 and 18.

An elongated flexible member 22 generally consists of a core of metallic threads 21 coated with a plastic skin 23. The elongated member 22 includes a co-acting lock member or locking head 24 at its upper end and a stop member 26 at its lower end within the pole 16. The stop member 26 can be simply swaged onto the elongated flexible member 22.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the elongated member 22 is stored within the handle 8 and pole member 16 of the ski pole 4. Thus, when the ski poles are in use by a skier, the elongated member 22 is not visable and is conveniently stored.

Referring to FIG. 2, a partial cross-sectional view of the handle 10 is provided. The handle body 28 generally consists of molded plastic. The handle body 28 is at least partially hollow to both accommodate the mounting of the pole member 18 and for receiving a a lock assembly 30. A port 32 is provided in the handle body to pennit access to the lock assembly 30. The locking head 24 of the elongated member 22 is adapted to extend through the port 32 for co-acting with the lock assembly 30.

Referring to FIG. 4, an operative state of the present invention can be seen in which the flexible elongated member 22 is removed from storage in the ski pole 4 and extends through the bindings of the skiis 34 and about a stationary object such as a post 36. The locking head 24 has a relatively small diameter and is capable of extending through most bindings for securement of the skiis 34 and is finally locked in handle portion 10.

By providing the elongated flexible member 22 in one ski pole 24 and the co-acting lock assembly in the other ski pole 6, the weight of the two ski poles are roughly equivalent and thereby the skier will not notice any weight imbalance during use.

Referring to FIG. 2, one form of lock assembly 30 is disclosed as a push lock which includes a housing or tubular casing member 38 and a relatively cylindrical inner sleeve or keeper member 40. The casing member 38 is connected to the handle body 28 by a base member 42. Between the base member 42 and the keeper member 40, a resilient means such as a spring 44 is positioned. The spring 44 biases the keeper member for movement away from the pole member 18 along a longitudinal axis of the casing member 38.

Perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of easing member 38 are a plurality of bores 46, 48, 50, and 52. Located within each bore 46 through 52 is an identical small spring member 54 which seats against a respective connecting pin 56. The exact number of bores is a design option.

The keeper member 40 has a key passageway or guideway 58 extending along the longitudinal axis. Identical tumbler pins 60 are aligned respectively within each passageway 62, 64, 66 and 68 of the keeper member 40. The passageways 62, 64, 66 and 68 are slightly conical with a converging slant towards the guideway 56 to limit the extent of movement of the respective tumbler pins 60 into the key guideway 58. A key 70 is provided with appropriate camming portions adapted to bear against the respective tumbler pins 60 to force the connecting pins 56 back into their respective bores 46, 48, 50, and 52. When the connecting ping 56 are appropriately positioned in the casing member 38, the keeper member 40 is free for longitudinal axial movement either against or with the bias force of the spring 44.

At the lower portion of the keeper member 40 adjacent the spring 44, a keyhole locking configuration 72 is provided to co-act with the locking head 22. Downward movement of the keeper member 40 will permit free passage of the locking head 22 into and out of the keyhole configuration 72 when it aligns with the handle port 32. When the keeper member 40 is moved upward to align the tumbler pins 60 with their respective connecting pins 56, the keeper member 40 is in a lock position relative to the locking head 24. A key member 90 on the casing 38 and a longitudinal passageway or track 92 in the keeper member 40 disclosed in phantom lines in FIG. 2, permit only an axial linear motion of the keeper member 40.

Referring to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is disclosed utilizing a conventional combination lock mechanism 74 having tumbler wheels 75. In this embodiment of the invention, a single ski pole assembly 2 is utilized with both the locking mechanism 74 and the elongated flexible cable member 78 stored in the pole portion 80 and handle 76 of a single pole. The locking head 22 is inserted into the lock mechanism 74 to engage a catch member (not shown). To release the locking head 22, the tumbler wheels must be appropriately re-aligned to release the catch member. This embodiment has the minor disadvantage of making one ski pole heavier than its companion ski pole. However, it can function the same as the embodiment of FIG. 1 in effectively preventing the theft of skiis. The upper portion of the pole includes a circular bearing shoulder 82 for limiting the upward movement of the stop member 26. This bearing shoulder configuration can also be used in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, a perspective top view of an alternative handle top 94 is disclosed. In this embodiment, a molded lid member 84 with an integral hinge can close a cavity containing the locking head 22. The underside of the lid member 84 is molded in the shape of a female coupling configuration 86 for co-acting with the male coupling 88 of the locking head 22. This configuration facilitates the withdrawal of the elongated flexible member 22 from the handle portion 8.

It should be noted that various modifications can be made to the apparatus by a person skilled in this art while still remaining within the purview of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A set of ski poles wherein each ski pole has a bandle portion and a bracket portion interconnected by a hollow pole member to assist a skier in protecting his equipment, comprising:

at least one handle portion having a bore therethrough;

an elongated flexible member having a locking head portion connected for limited relative movement to one of the ski poles and movable into and out of the hollow pole member through the bore in the first handle portion;

means on the handle portion for covering the opening of the bore on the handle portion when the elongated flexible member is retracted into the pole for storage and coacting with the locking head portion to facilitate the withdrawal of the elongated flexible member from the hollow pole member;

a key member having camming portions;

a locking apparatus mounted in the handle portion of the other ski pole, including a casing member having a longitudinal axis and at least one side wall adapted to be connected to the handle, the side wall having at least one bore therein, a keeper member having a key guideway and at least one passageway, the keeper member movable only along the longitudinal axis and positioned in the casing member for fastening and releasing the locking head portion, a tumbler pin positioned in the passageway and relatively movable with respect to the keeper member;

resilient means operatively positioned in the bore for biasing the tumbler pin relative to the key guideway; and

bias means operatively biasing the keeper member relative to the casing member along the longitudinal axis whereby the cam portions of the key member are capable of depressing the tumbler pin against the resilient means to permit the keeper member to move relative to the casing member for fastening or releasing the locking head portion whereby the elongated flexible member can be utilized to secure skis and the like and to further interconnect both ski poles against unauthorized removal.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means on the handle portion includes an integral hinge cover lid member.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the integral hinge cover lid member includes a female coupling configuration complementary to the locking head portion of the elongated flexible member 

1. A set of ski poles wherein each ski pole has a handle portion and a bracket portion interconnected by a hollow pole member to assist a skier in protecting his equipment, comprising: at least one handle portion having a bore therethrough; an elongated flexible member having a locking head portion connected for limited relative movement to one of the ski poles and movable into and out of the hollow pole member through the bore in the first handle portion; means on the handle portion for covering the opening of the bore on the handle portion when the elongated flexible member is retracted into the pole for storage and coacting with the locking head portion to facilitate the withdrawal of the elongated flexible member from the hollow pole member; a key member having camming portions; a locking apparatus mounted in the handle portion of the other ski pole, including a casing member having a longitudinal axis and at least one side wall adapted to be connected to the handle, the side wall having at least one bore therein, a keeper member having a key guideway and at least one passageway, the keeper member movable only along the longitudinal axis and positioned in the casing member for fastening and releasing the locking head portion, a tumbler pin positioned in the passageway and relatively movable with respect to the keeper member; resilient means operatively positioned in the bore for biasing the tumbler pin relative to the key guideway; and bias means operatively biasing the keeper member relative to the casing member along the longitudinal axis whereby the cam portions of the key member are capable of depressing the tumbler pin against the resilient means to permit the keeper member to move relative to the casing member for fastening or releasing the locking head portion whereby the elongated flexible member can be utilized to secure skis and the like and to further interconnect both ski poles against unauthorized removal.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means on the handle portion includes an integral hinge cover lid member.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the integral hinge cover lid member includes a female coupling configuration complementary to the locking head portion of the elongated flexible member 